We don’t know exactly what causes schizophrenia but researchers believe that it may result from “different levels of vulnerability to schizophrenia, which are determined by a combination of biological, social and psychological factors”.12 These include:
Biological:
- Structural and biochemical differences in the brain3
- Schizophrenia runs in the family – though just because one person in a family has schizophrenia certainly doesn’t mean that anyone else in that family will necessarily develop it35
Environmental/social:
- Certain viral infections3
- Pregnancy and birth complications3
- Social adversity and trauma12
- Heavy drug use512
- Migration12
- Stressful or life-changing events5
- Head injury3
Psychological:
- Difficulties with learning, attention, memory, planning and reasoning12
